London Living Wage: ‘more important than ever that large employers support their workers’

David Bradley, NHS London Living Wage Lead and Chief Executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has shared his views on the benefits of paying the London Living Wage, during Living Wage Week, 14-20 November 2022.

I am proud that we pay all our staff the London Living Wage, which is higher than the minimum wage set by the government. We have paid the London Living Wage since February 2020 and it means that all our London-based employees, both those employed directly by us and by contractors, earn enough money to meet the capital's cost of living. The independently calculated rate is more important than ever to make sure people receive fair pay and can benefit from good quality work.

We became a London Living Wage employer one month before the Covid-19 pandemic exposed deep inequalities in our society – not just in access to healthcare and services but also through work and job security. As a founding member of South London Listens – a unique partnership programme to prevent a mental ill-health crisis - we heard first-hand how low wages and insecure work was impacting the mental health of our communities. 

We all know that poverty fuels ill-health. As NHS organisations we need to do all we can to break this cycle and prevent people from becoming unwell.

Following the devastating impact of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis has compounded the pressure on our communities. It is more important than ever that large employers support their workers by doing all that they can to lift them out of in-work poverty.

I know many organisations will be reflecting on the steps they can take to support people through this crisis – particularly our lowest paid workers in the health sector who may be struggling to heat their homes and feed their families. By becoming a Living Wage employer, they will be helping people to earn enough money to afford the essentials and support with outgoings such as energy bills, fuel and accommodation. As large employers rooted in our communities, paying the London Living Wage supports our local economies, benefiting a wider population. 

Together, NHS London and your local Integrated Care System can provide support, information and analysis to help you become a living wage employer.

So far, 2,500 organisations across London pay the London Living Wage, including eight NHS trusts. Ten of thousands of Londoner have higher wages and more money in their pockets as a result. I am proud by what we have achieved so far and the lives that we've been able to change by making this simple commitment – there is more work to do but I know we will achieve our vision of making London a Living Wage City.